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Sonoma County Grand Jury • 2020-2021

County Jail Inmate Telephone and Commissary Overcharging a Captive Population

Published: August 27, 2020 11 pages
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Findings and Recommendations 8 findings

F1
Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office commission-based contract with Global Tel Link unreasonably inflates the cost of telephone communication for incarcerated people and their families in the community.
Related Recommendations (2)
R1
The Sheriff’s Office work with the Board of Supervisors to replace the current commission-based audio and video contract with Global Tel Link, using a model based on the San Francisco County Sheriff’s Department, by December 31, 2021. (F1, F3)
R2
By September 30, 2021, the Sheriff’s Office develop a new communications model to provide for sufficient telephone kiosks to allow the inmate population free telephone and video visitation for at least 90 minutes per week until such time as a new communication contract is in effect. (F1, F2, F3)
F2
High mark-ups on commissary and phone card sales place an undue burden on some of the most economically vulnerable families in the County.
Related Recommendations (2)
R2
By September 30, 2021, the Sheriff’s Office develop a new communications model to provide for sufficient telephone kiosks to allow the inmate population free telephone and video visitation for at least 90 minutes per week until such time as a new communication contract is in effect. (F1, F2, F3)
R5
The Sheriff’s Office reevaluate its commissary markup to be in line with grocery store, as opposed to convenience store, pricing, on or before September 1, 2021. (F2, F7, F8)
F3
A renegotiated agreement with Global Tel Link, without the excessive mark-up added for commissions, would lower the cost of telephone calls for the incarcerated population.
Related Recommendations (2)
R1
The Sheriff’s Office work with the Board of Supervisors to replace the current commission-based audio and video contract with Global Tel Link, using a model based on the San Francisco County Sheriff’s Department, by December 31, 2021. (F1, F3)
R2
By September 30, 2021, the Sheriff’s Office develop a new communications model to provide for sufficient telephone kiosks to allow the inmate population free telephone and video visitation for at least 90 minutes per week until such time as a new communication contract is in effect. (F1, F2, F3)
F4
Five telephones for a group of 60 people to use in less than one hour is insufficient to promote communication between incarcerated people and their support networks outside the jail.
No recommendations for this finding
F5
The Sheriff’s Office will be required to find new funding for its Inmate Welfare Trust - supported programs if the California Public Utilities Commission issues its order in the coming year.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
As required by PC § 4025(e), the Sheriff’s Office provide an annual report to the Board Of Supervisors detailing line item revenue and expenses within the Inmate Welfare Trust , beginning with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, with the initial report due by November 30, 2021. (F5, F7)
F6
The Sheriff’s Office detention staff holds disproportionate control over the Inmate Welfare Trust Commission with nine seats of the 10-member committee.
Related Recommendations (1)
R7
The Sheriff’s Office restructure the 10-member Inmate Welfare Trust Committee by December 31, 2021 to include more diverse representation, for example, community members, financial analysts, social workers and educators to bring the Committee more in line with the requirements of Penal Code § 5006 regarding commission membership standards for State Prisons. (F6)
F7
The high mark-up on the commissary and phone card sales continued while visitation and inmate supportive programs, which are funding by the Inmate Welfare Trust revenues, were cancelled.
Related Recommendations (2)
R3
As required by PC § 4025(e), the Sheriff’s Office provide an annual report to the Board Of Supervisors detailing line item revenue and expenses within the Inmate Welfare Trust , beginning with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, with the initial report due by November 30, 2021. (F5, F7)
R5
The Sheriff’s Office reevaluate its commissary markup to be in line with grocery store, as opposed to convenience store, pricing, on or before September 1, 2021. (F2, F7, F8)
F8
The high mark-up on the commissary and phone card sales result in over $1.6 million accumulated excess in the Inmate Welfare Trust.
Related Recommendations (3)
R4
The Sheriff’s Office use its $1.6 million Inmate Welfare Trust surplus to remove all charges for telephone service while in-person visitation is suspended, on or before September 30, 2021. (F8)
R5
The Sheriff’s Office reevaluate its commissary markup to be in line with grocery store, as opposed to convenience store, pricing, on or before September 1, 2021. (F2, F7, F8)
R6
By September 30, 2021, the Sheriff’s Office, using the reserve Inmate Welfare Trust funds, resume all inmate programs in existence pre-COVID, with funding at the same level once COVID related restrictions are lifted. (F8)

Conclusions 6

No Responses Found 2

Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.

Sonoma County Board of Supervisors Elected County Office
Sonoma County Sheriff Elected County Office